Documents needed for business verification

All individuals, including sole traders, company directors etc. 

Details we’ll check 

• Full name (Including middle name)

• Date of Birth

• Residential Address 

Documents we'll ask for  

• Australian drivers licence; OR Australian or foreign issued passport

(Ensure that the document/s have not expired (other than a Commonwealth passport which may have expired within the preceding two years)

A person trading in their own name or a registered business name 

Details we’ll check 

• Identification of Sole Trader/ ABN Holder

• Australian Business Number (ABN)

• Registered Business Name (where applicable)

• Principal Place of Business Address 

Documents we’ll ask for 

• Identification of Sole Trader

• Identification of persons acting on behalf of the business 

A separate legal entity, unlike a sole trader or a partnership structure, issued with an Australian Company Number 

Details we’ll check 

• ASIC registered entity name

• Registered address of the company’s Australian office

• Address of the company’s principal place of business (if any)

• Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Registered Body Number (ARBN)

• Registered Business Name

• Beneficial owner(s) (per requirements for Individual (including Beneficial Owners) / Sole Trader)

• Australian Business Number (ABN)

• If company is registered in foreign jurisdiction - Foreign Registration Details 

Documents we'll ask for 

• Identification of persons acting of behalf of the business

• Identification of Individuals determined to be Beneficial Owners

• Copy of foreign company registration; OR Search of publicly accessible register maintained by regulator.

• A partnership is a legal relationship between two or more people or organisations with a view to make a profit.

• A partnership may have an Australian Business Number 

Details we’ll check 

• Full name of the partnership

• Australian Business Number (ABN)

• Full business name (if any) of the partnership as registered with ASIC or State or Territory body

• Country in which partnership was established

• For one of the partners – Full Name (including middle name), Date of Birth and Residential Address (per requirements for Individual (including Beneficial Owners) / Sole Trader)

• Full name (Including middle name) and residential address of each partner in the partnership

• Beneficial owner(s) (per requirements for Individual (including Beneficial Owners) / Sole Trader) 

Documents we'll ask for 

• Identification of persons acting of behalf of the business

• Identification of one of the partners

• Identification of Individuals determined to be Beneficial Owners

• Partnership Agreement

How to obtain a certified copy of a Partnership Agreement

1. Make a copy of the original document.

2. Take the original document and your copy to the certifier.

3. The certifier will check your copy is the same as the original.

4. On a single-page document, the certifier must write or stamp, 'This is a certified true copy of the original as sighted by me'.

5. On documents with more than 1 page, the certifier must write or stamp 'I certify this and the following [number of pages] pages to be a true copy of the original as sighted by me' on the first page and initials all other pages.

6. The certifier must also write or stamp on the copy:

   • Their signature;

   • full name (including middle name);

   • their occupation;

   • their phone number;

   • the date; and

   • their address (optional)

• An association is created by a group of people for a common purpose. E.g. a sporting club

• An incorporated body or association is created when a group of people formally register or incorporate their association with a relevant body

• An unincorporated body or association is one that hasn't formally been registered or incorporated with a relevant body 

Details we’ll check 

• Full name of Association

• Registered address of the association or principal place of administration

• Unique identifying or Registration number issued to the association up on its incorporation (if incorporated)

• Full name (Including middle name) of the association office bearers (chairman, secretary and treasurer) or equivalent officers

• Australian Business Number (ABN)

• If association is unincorporated – In respect to one of the association members – their Full Name (Including middle name), Date of Birth, Residential Address 

Documents we'll ask for 

• Identification of persons acting on behalf of the organisation

• Identification of Individuals determined to be Beneficial Owners 

• Constitution of the association

An agency or authority of the Commonwealth, State or Territory or a local government council of a State or Territory. 

Details we’ll check 

• Full name of Government Body

• Full Address of Government Body’s principal place of operations

• Whether the government body is an entity or emanation, or is established under Australian legislation

• Australian Business Number (ABN)

• If government entity is foreign – Whether the government body is an entity or emanation, or is established under foreign country legislation 

Documents we’ll ask for 

• Identification of persons acting on behalf of the organisation 

Unregulated Trust 

• An unregulated trust is not regulated by a government or regulatory body. E.g. Unit trust, family trust, deceased estate 

Regulated Trust 

• A registered managed investment scheme

• An unregistered managed investment scheme (that only has wholesale clients and doesn't make small-scale offerings)

• A government-managed superannuation fund or a superannuation fund registered and regulated by APRA 

Details we’ll check 

• Full name of the Trust

• Full name (Including middle name) of the Trustee(s)

• Australian Business Number (ABN) of the Trust and/or the Trustee

• Full Registered Business name (if any) of the Trustee

• If any of the Trustees is an individual; refer to the information listed in the Individuals section (above)

• If any of the Trustees is a Company; refer to the information listed in the Companies section (above) 

Documents we'll ask for 

• Identification of persons acting on behalf of the business

• Identification of Individuals determined to be Beneficial Owners 

• Original or certified Trust deed

• Most recent Unit Holder Register (Applicable to Unit Trusts)

What is a certified copy of a Trust Deed?

A certified copy is a copy (often a photocopy) of a primary document that has on it an endorsement or certificate that it is a true copy of the primary document. It does not certify that the primary document is genuine, only that it is a true copy of the primary document.Who can certify a copy of a Trust Deed?

Who can certify a copy of a Trust Deed?

It is usual for documents to be certified by a person who is authorised as a witness for statutory declarations under the Statutory Declarations Regulations 2018 – Schedule 2.

How to obtain a certified copy of a Trust Deed

1. Make a copy of the original document.

2. Take the original document and your copy to the certifier.

3. The certifier will check your copy is the same as the original.

4. On a single-page document, the certifier must write or stamp, 'This is a certified true copy of the original as sighted by me'.

5. On documents with more than 1 page, the certifier must write or stamp 'I certify this and the following [number of pages] pages to be a true copy of the original as sighted by me' on the first page and initials all other pages.

6. The certifier must also write or stamp on the copy:

   • Their signature;

   • full name (including middle name);

   • their occupation;

   • their phone number;

   • the date; and

   • their address (optional)

(whether in physical or digital form), certification must be by a licensed legal professional or registered justice of peace in Australia. 

A legal entity owner and controlled by the people for whom it was established and who benefit from using its services. 

Details we’ll check 

• Full name (including middle name) of registered co-operative

• Full registered address of the registered co-operative or principal place of administration

• Unique identifying or Registration number issued to the co-operative upon its registration

• Full name (including middle name) of the co-operative office bearers (Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) or equivalent officers

• Australian Business Number (ABN) (where applicable) 

Documents we'll ask for 

• Identification of persons acting on behalf of the organisation